Mimicry on the High Seas 



Camouflage at Sea 



The first illustration shcvs how ciosely related the 

 problems of a submarine commander are to those of a 

 duck hunter. He must estimate the speed and course 

 of his target and shoot enough ahead to allow for 

 them. The centre picture shows the appearance 

 of a ship at 2,000 yards, seen through the periscope 

 of a submarine under ideal conditions. The range 

 is determined by the height of the smokestack above 

 the waterline. The two side illustrations are 

 examples of the way the camoufleur changes the 

 light and shade on the hulls, funnels, etc., of vessels, 

 thereby confusing an observer both as to the 

 length of the ship and the angle of her approach or 

 departure. The ordinarily high lights are toned 

 down, and the naturally dull portions are thrown 



up by painting them in bright colors. At the 

 bottom is seen a complete camouflaged boat, and 

 one that was painted by a master-hand. The 

 whole idea is to give the impression of a sinking 

 ship, and to merge the ship proper into the back- 

 ground. It will be noticed that the dark shaded 

 patches on the hull would convey, at a distance, the 

 impression of a funnel and waterlogged hull, while 

 the sham "sea" merges into the real sea and makes 

 it appear that the alleged steamer is in a sinking 

 condition. This particular instance is a most in- 

 genious one. A more common one is to paint the 

 hull of a smaller vessel of radically different di- 

 mensions on the hull of the boat, or to "paint off" 

 the stern and raise up the apparent waterline. 



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